More Families Seeking Shelter at YWCA Wichita's Women's Crisis Center

The YWCA Wichita Women's Crisis Center's emergency shelter continues to operate at maximum capacity. Hundreds of domestic violence victims seeking shelter were turned away last year due to lack of space.

Shelter room at the YWCA Wichita Women's Crisis Center

Credit YWCA Wichita Women's Crisis Center

The Women's Crisis Center's served nearly 300 women and children through their shelter last year, but they turned away 551 people seeking help. This represents a 53% increase from the previous year. Executive Director, Angela Lampe says the increase may be because more people are aware of resources available or because there is more domestic violence. Lampe says people were turned away from shelter last year due to lack of space.

Out of those 551 individuals, 357 of those were children so obviously there is huge need. We realize we do not have the capacity for our emergency shelter.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation states that domestic violence is at a 20 year high. Those figures are based on incidents that are reported to law enforcement.Strategic plans include expanding the center over the next five years. The center also offers outreach services such as counseling and court advocacy.

The Size of the Problem

Nationally, 1 in 4 women have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, and 1 in 7 men have experienced the same. (CDC, 2010)

The Wichita Police Department had 5,348 reports of domestic violence in 2013.

The National Institutes of Justice estimate that only 25% of these crimes are reported to law enforcement. (NIJ, 2009)

Almost 30% of the homicides in Kansas in 2012 were related to domestic violence. (FBI, KBI, 2013)